Friday November 13, 2009 is not a day that former Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson will remember fondly. The Louisiana Democrat who lost his seat in 2008 to Republican Joseph Cao while he was under indictment for bribery and racketeering - and who was convicted of the charges earlier this year - was sentenced today to 13 years in prison.

More from Roll Call:

A federal judge sentenced ex-Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) on Friday to 13 years in prison, the longest incarceration ever ordered for a former Member of Congress.

The sentence falls short of the maximum 33 years federal prosecutors recommended in court documents. Jefferson's attorneys recommended a term of no more than 10 years.

A federal jury in August found Jefferson guilty of 11 criminal charges, including conspiracy to solicit bribes, money laundering, wire fraud and a pattern of racketeering activity.

The jury determined Jefferson may have to forfeit up to $471,000, plus additional stock holdings, the income that he received as a result of those criminal activities.

Judge T.S. Ellis said: "Public corruption is a cancer. It needs to be surgically removed."

Indeed. Good riddance.

There is also a complete story at the New Orleans Times Picayune.